Region is taking suicide seriously

I write in response to your Oct. 31 editorial, "Suicide is preventable."

By MAURA WEIR

capecodtimes.com

By MAURA WEIR

Posted Nov. 19, 2012 at 2:15 AM

By MAURA WEIR
Posted Nov. 19, 2012 at 2:15 AM

suicide-prevention contacts

Anyone in crisis or concerned about someone who may be suicidal may call either of the following numbers, 24/7:

Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands: 800-893-9900

National Suic...

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suicide-prevention contacts

Anyone in crisis or concerned about someone who may be suicidal may call either of the following numbers, 24/7:

Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands: 800-893-9900

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)

To be trained in suicide prevention, call:

Maura Weir:

774-392-5420

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I write in response to your Oct. 31 editorial, "Suicide is preventable."

The state Department of Public Health in 2009 awarded a three-year suicide-prevention grant to the Community Health Network Area 27, which covers Barnstable County, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The Youth Suicide Prevention Project was established under the Community Health Center of Cape Cod to help reduce suicide in the 10- to 24-year-old age group. The project recently completed the first phase of a very comprehensive community-based youth suicide-prevention program.

The key to the program is coordination and pooling of resources. The youth project works with schools, agencies, health centers, local town officials, libraries, the Cape & Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands, and other agencies to train, educate and build capacity of the community to help prevent, intervene and assist before and after a suicide.

Examples of this coordination are the early identification and referral trainings for school staff and students, including Signs of Suicide (SOS) and other evidence-based practices that have been conducted in 11 middle/high schools on Cape and at Cape Cod Community College and Massachusetts Maritime Academy since 2009.

Cape schools are taking suicide very seriously; in fact, SOS screenings were undertaken in some schools even before the project's existence. With funding from the Youth Suicide Prevention Project, eight more schools have followed suit. Teacher trainings are strategically planned before SOS screenings to enhance the school's suicide-prevention plan of improving capacity to identify and refer potentially suicidal youth.

Among the project's goals are SOS screenings, teacher training and suicide-prevention training for EMS, first responders, community groups and those working with young people. So far the project has trained more than 2,100 members of the general public and more than 500 school personnel in early identification, screening and the referral process for at-risk youth in Cape schools.

More than 1,100 students have been screened through SOS with funding from the project and assistance from local teachers, staff and clinicians from the Department of Mental Health. In addition, the project has distributed to 17 schools in the region kits and manuals providing guidelines for school response in the aftermath of a suicide or sudden death. We have worked directly with six schools to implement these protocols.

Suicide awareness events and programs sponsored by the Suicide Prevention Coalition have drawn 500 attendees. Other community outreach programs and awareness activities were coordinated by pooling resources from different schools and towns as well as the many agencies involved. All coalition members are committed to reducing the number of suicides in this region through coordinating efforts and pooling resources.

The Youth Suicide Prevention Project, the Cape & Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Nantucket Coalition and the Cape Cod Neighborhood Support Network have all made presentations at state and national conferences on the success of our community response and coordinated and effective suicide-prevention efforts on the Cape and Islands. Other parts of the state and nation are using our prevention models in our schools and community as a guide for suicide prevention programs in other regions.

Again, when Cape and Islands pool resources and coordinate prevention efforts, suicide can be prevented. Let's keep up the great work!